Phlox plant named ‘Barthirtyone’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Barthirtyone’, characterized by its upright and compact plan habit; freely branching growth habit; violet-colored flowers; freely flowering habit; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Barthirtyone’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phloxplant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name Barthirtyone.

The new Phlox is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new compact pot-type Phlox cultivars with numerousflowers with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Phlox originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventorin Aalsmeer, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Phloxpaniculata identified as code number 93.44.05.05, not patented, as thefemale, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Phlox paniculataidentified as code number 94.05, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Phlox was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings since 2002in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Barthirtyone have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Barthirtyone’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Barthirtyone’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

-   -   1. Upright and compact plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching growth habit.    -   3. Violet-colored flowers.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox differ primarily from plants of the parentselections in flower coloration.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of the Phloxpaniculata cultivar Barten, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,802. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Phlox differed from plants of the cultivar Barten primarilyin flower color as plants of the cultivar Barten had lavender-coloredflowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall apperance ofthe new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which more accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Phlox. The photograph comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Barthirtyone’ grown in an outdoornursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurementsdescribe plants grown in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands, in an outdoor nurseyunder commercial production practices during the summer. Plants wereabout three months old when the photograph and description were taken.During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 20° C.and night temperatures averaged 15° C. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata cultivar Barthirtyone.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox paniculata            identified as code number 93.44.05.05, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox paniculata            identified as code number 94.05, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate rotos, summer.—About three weeks at 25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five            weeks at 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six to            seven weeks at 18° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Upright and compact plant habit; narrow            inverted triangle. Feely branching with about ten lateral            branches per plant.        -   Plant height.—About 50 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 30 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10 cm. Diameter: About 5 to            8 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple;            sessile. Length: About 8 cm. Width: About 4 cm. Shape:            Oblong to elliptic. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            leathery. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing and            fully developed leaves, upper surface: 141A. Developing and            fully developed leaves, lower surface: 137B. Venation, upper            and lower surfaces: 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single, rounded salverform flowers            arranged in terminal panicles; panicles globular to            pyramidal in form; flowers face upright and outward. Freely            flowering habit with about 35 to 70 flower buds and open            flowers per panicle.        -   Fragrance.—Typical of species.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from spring            through fall in The Netherlands. Flowers not persistent.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about four days on            the plant.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Elliptic. Color: 88C.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 10 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3 cm.        -   Flower length.—About 1 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Length            (including tube): About 2.5 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape:            Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Mostly flat.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Developing petals, upper and lower surfaces: 88C. Fully            expanded petals, upper and lower surfaces: 88C; towards the            base, 88D; color becoming closer to 88D with development.            Throat: 74A. Tube: 88C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl, fused; narrow tubular calyx. Length: About 5 mm.            Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: 137A overlain with 58A. Color, lower surface:            137A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 to 2 mm.            Orientation: Upright to about 45° from vertical. Strength:            Strong. Color: 137A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 2 mm.            Anther color: 155A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            Close to 155D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: Typically one.            Pistil length: About 2.5 cm. Stigma shape: Tri-parted.            Stigma color: 154D. Style length: About 2.5 cm. Style color:            154D. Ovary color: 137A.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Phlox have been noted to    be resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new Phlox have not    been noted to be resistant to other pathogens and pests common to    Phlox.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from 0 to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Barthirtyone’, asillustrated and described.